Pamela Anderson's traumatic childhood

Pamela Anderson has stunned guests at the launch of her charity foundation in Cannes by detailing a catalogue of sexual abuse during her childhood.

The revelation came as she unveiled the Pamela Anderson Foundation, which will focus on the environment and animal rights, in front of more than 200 people during the film festival in France on Friday.

I wanted off this earth.

Anderson, 46, said her past had prompted her love of nature.

'I did not have an easy childhood': Pamela Anderson. Photo: Getty

"I feel now might be the time to reveal a few of my most painful memories. At the risk of over-exposing myself, again, or being inappropriate, again, I thought I might share with you why I am doing this," the Baywatch star said.

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Anderson has previously revealed she was raped when she was 12, but she detailed a further string of abusive incidents, alleging she was molested by a female babysitter at the age of six and gang-raped as a teen.

"I did not have an easy childhood. Despite loving parents, I was molested from age six by a female babysitter ... I went to a friend's boyfriend's house and his older brother decided to teach me backgammon, which led into a back massage, which led into rape. My first heterosexual experience. He was 25 years old and I was 12."

Pamela Anderson attends an event in Cannes on Friday. Photo: Getty

She then added that a high school teenager "decided it would be funny to gang-rape me with six friends. I wanted off this earth."

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood was on hand to support her friend, but admitted the revelations came as a shock to her.

She told Britain's The Guardian newspaper: "I did not know she had been through all of that. I have known her a long time now and we are really close."